• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

U.S., Canada Team Up for Frontier Sentinel

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070706-05
Release Date: 7/6/2007 10:22:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Moises M. Medel, COMSECONDFLT Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Approximately 3,000 personnel from U.S. and Canadian military forces and government civilian agencies participated in the training exercise, Frontier Sentinel 07-2, which focused on maritime homeland security June 24-27.

The exercise took place in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, about 100-150 miles off the coasts of northeastern United States and southeastern Nova Scotia, Canada.

The purpose of Frontier Sentinel is to exercise coordinated planning and response to maritime threats to North America. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, 2nd Fleet and Joint Task Force Atlantic (Canadian East Coast forces), made up the core group of operational commanders responsible for maritime homeland security and defense on the east coast.

Frontier Sentinel 07-2 was the fourth exercise in the series and the first led by the Canadians. The scenario for this exercise was based on hostage-taking at sea. The exercise involved the coordinated detection, assessment and response to a maritime security threat to Canada and the United States.

“This exercise is the most complex in the series,” said Capt. Bruce Belliveau of Joint Task Force Atlantic. “It’s the collaboration and the ability for us to turn the whole of government to a problem and provide the right level of assets to deal with any maritime security threats.”

“The high level of participation and coordination helped set the foundation for future maritime operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Landis, one of the four 2nd Fleet exercise planners.

In response to the simulated crisis in the Canadian maritimes, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and several 2nd Fleet assets participated, including the 2nd Fleet flagship amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1).

The response also included the nuclear-powered submarine USS Miami (SSN 755), P-3 aircraft from Combat Patrol Reconnaissance Wing 5 and a detachment from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2.

Canadian assets included the Maritime Security Operation Centre partners, namely Transport Canada, Canadian Border Services Agency, Department of Fisheries and Ocean, Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.